What patients do to counteract the symptoms of Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED): Effect of gender and severity of illness

Abstract

Objectives:This study was carried out to assess different counteracting strategies used by patients with idiopathic Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED). Whether these strategies were influenced by gender or disease severity was also assessed.Materials and Methods:A total of 173 patients of idiopathic RLS/WED were included in this study. Their demographic data was recorded. Details regarding the RLS/WED and strategies that they used to counteract the symptoms were asked. The severity of RLS/WED was measured with the help of the Hindi version of international restless legs syndrome severity rating scale. They were asked to provide the details regarding the relief obtained from all the strategies they used on three-point scale: no relief, some relief, and complete relief.Results:Of the patients, 72% were females. Mean age of the subjects in this study was 39.6 ± 12.6 years, and male subjects were older than females. Four common strategies were reported by the patients to counter the sensations of RLS/WED: moving legs while in bed (85.5%), asking somebody to massage their legs or massaging legs themselves (76.9%), walking (53.2%), and tying a cloth/rope tightly on the legs (39.3%). Of all the patients who moved their legs, 6.7% did not experience any relief, 64.2% reported some relief, and 28.4% reported complete relief. Similarly, of all the patients who used “walking” to counteract symptoms, 50% reported complete relief, 44.5% reported some relief, and the rest did not experience any relief. Many of these patients reported that massage and tying a cloth/rope on legs brought greater relief than any of these strategies. Tying cloth on the leg was more common among females as compared to males (45.9% females vs. 23.5% males; χ2 = 7.54; P = 0.006), while patients with moderately severe to severe RLS/WED reported “moving legs in bed” (79.3% in mild to moderate RLS/WED; 91.8% in severe to very severe RLS; χ2 = 5.36; P = 0.02).Conclusion:Patients with RLS/WED use a variety of strategies to counteract symptoms. These strategies may be influenced by gender, disease severity, and cultural practices.

Effectiveness and safety of massage in the treatment of restless legs syndrome

“…[ 6 , 8 , 16 , 17 ] As a commonly used complementary and alternative medicine therapy, massage can be effective in reducing the symptoms associated with RLS and improving their quality of life. [ 20 , 23 – 26 ] In addition, it shows such advantages as cheap affordability, safety, the simplicity of operation and the reduction to side effects. [ 27 ] Therefore, massage therapy is highly recommended by RLS patients.…”

“…[ 19 ] Furthermore, a report has been published to suggest that as many as 76.9% of RLS patients take enjoyment from having their legs massaged. [ 20 ]…”

“…[ 23 ] Plenty of research has also demonstrated that massage is effective in reducing the symptoms associated with RLS. [ 20 , 23 – 26 ] Apart from that, it is an increasingly common practice among medical professionals to prescribe massage therapy due to its safety, simplicity, affordability and the prospect of reduced side effects. [ 27 ]…”

Cognition, Mood and Sleep in Menopausal Transition: The Role of Menopause Hormone Therapy

“…Concerning the role of estrogen in the etiopathogenesis of RLS, Saltzman et al suggest that estrogen influences the dopaminergic system [110] and the catabolism of dopamine by inhibitory influence on the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme [111]. However, one recent study found no difference between sleep difficulties across females and males, despite a higher prevalence of RLS among women [112]. Menopausal women previously suffering from RLS describe a worsening of severity after menopause regardless of the use of menopause hormone therapy (MHT) [113].…”

Contraceptive Method Mix Utilization and its Associated Factors among Married Women in Gedeo Zone, Southern Nations, Nationality and People Region-Ethiopia: A Community based Cross Sectional Study

“…This could be one reason why WED/RLS symptoms have been correlated with the presence of vasomotor symptom among menopausal women in many studies [11,83]. However, one of the recent studies did not find any difference between the sleep difficulties across genders, despite higher prevalence of RLS among females [84]. In addition, although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) improves vasomotor symptoms, this has not been found to influence the WED/RLS in any manner [20,76,79,85].…”